Battery Drain??

golden-lariat · #1 11-15-2010, 07:35 PM

My 2005 has resently been promoted from daily driver due to the purchase of a car. In the 3 weeks that it sat in the garage since I drove it last, the battery had been completely drained. Not even enough power to ding with the key. I jump started it and drove it around later, that night it was dead again but after running it for longer and parking it overnight it fired right up the next morning.

First question what drained it when it sat? Gryphon? Remote starter?

Does anyone have experience with battery tenders?

MGDfan · #2 11-15-2010, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden-lariat

My 2005 has resently been promoted from daily driver due to the purchase of a car. In the 3 weeks that it sat in the garage since I drove it last, the battery had been completely drained. Not even enough power to ding with the key. I jump started it and drove it around later, that night it was dead again but after running it for longer and parking it overnight it fired right up the next morning.

First question what drained it when it sat? Gryphon? Remote starter?

Does anyone have experience with battery tenders?

Over time, all the various parasitic loads combined will drain the battery. And once depleted enough the battery can actually be degraded. Add to that a batt that is a couple/few years old and you can have these issues.

One word - Schumacher.

http://www.schumacherbatterycharger....tainer-review/

There is also a model designed for permanent installation in the engine bay and hard-wired to the battery and is sealed:

.

WallyMart - ~ $25 and up.

I Use them religiously.

Zero battery issues.

MGD

golden-lariat · #3 11-15-2010, 08:11 PM

Um... its hard to take your chart seriously when it says 30 degrees is below freezing.

Just saying. But ya I know its hard on batteries to deep cycle them.

MGDfan · #4 11-15-2010, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden-lariat

Um... its hard to take your chart seriously when it says 30 degrees is below freezing.

Just saying. But ya I know its hard on batteries to deep cycle them.

Y'know - I've been using that chart for years on here, and yer the first fella to catch that

That typo does not invalidate the rest of the data - it is accurate.

Run a maintainer continuously - will not hurt a thing. Additionally, it keeps the battery warm in colder climes.

MGD

avfrog · #5 11-15-2010, 08:51 PM

Check and make sure that your battery drain plug didn't come out.

golden-lariat · #6 11-15-2010, 09:40 PM

well the battery works fine now that the truck is getting used every day as usual. So its just a slow drain that needs to be addressed with a maintainer of some sort.
I like the BatteryMinder but $129 seems pretty steep.

ManualF150 · #7 11-15-2010, 10:59 PM

If you want to find the draw one day when you are bored, just attach a digital multimeter to the battery, and start pulling fuses. You will quickly find out what is causing all of this draw.

I've let my truck sit for close to 10 weeks of non-use, and the battery was still fully charged. Then again, I replace my battery once a year. Why? Because it is simple and easy maintainance.

ian51279 · #8 11-15-2010, 11:18 PM

If your battery was like mine, a few years old (don't know exactly, it was in the truck when I bought it), the constant but slow pull of the Gryphon and colder nights finally killed mine off for good.

I was working out of state most of the first 7 months of the year and even a 2 week period would leave my battery drained. The only thing I added to the truck in that time frame was the Gryphon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManualF150

Then again, I replace my battery once a year. Why? Because it is simple and easy maintainance.

That's just a waste of money. Even in your climate a good battery will last 3-4 years.

glc · #9 11-16-2010, 02:43 AM

Manual does a lot of things that are just over the top. Add this to the list!

MUD DIGGER · #10 11-16-2010, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden-lariat

Um... its hard to take your chart seriously when it says 30 degrees is below freezing.

Just saying. But ya I know its hard on batteries to deep cycle them.

30 degrees IS below Freezing

MUD DIGGER · #11 11-16-2010, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden-lariat

well the battery works fine now that the truck is getting used every day as usual. So its just a slow drain that needs to be addressed with a maintainer of some sort.
I like the BatteryMinder but $129 seems pretty steep.

129$ thats it..i just spent 225 on a yellow top

MGDfan · #12 11-16-2010, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golden-lariat

well the battery works fine now that the truck is getting used every day as usual. So its just a slow drain that needs to be addressed with a maintainer of some sort.
I like the BatteryMinder but $129 seems pretty steep.

I repeat: Schumacher. WallyMart. $25. Period. Dot. Dot.

MGD

sam1947 · #13 11-16-2010, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mud digger

30 degrees is below freezing

BUT 30 degrees Celsius is 86 degrees Fahrenheit

88racing · #14 11-16-2010, 08:38 AM

A battery tender will save your battery from the parasitic draws that these trucks electronic systems have.......

**Bluejay** · #15 11-16-2010, 09:07 AM

As mentioned, there is a constant parasitic drain on the newer vehicles, with all the electronic systems that stay "live", even though the key is off. It will drain the battery if not recharged regularly. I have a $25 battery tender from Walmart that works great. Just hook it up every couple of weeks and it can sit for long periods witjout going down.